Impact Of Buddhism, Politics & Corruption On The Rule Of Law – Part II
By Mass L. Usuf –January 22, 2017
Mass Usuf
Gnanasara’s rendezvous with President
The grotesque picture of Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero must have truly embarrassed the decent Buddhists and the respected monks. He is attempting to assault a female police officer unashamedly looked on by the others. Substitute citizen Perera or Subramanian or Abdullah in place of the monk and imagine how the picture would then have looked like. Another instance of the Rule of Law (ROL) becoming impotent when it relates to monks violating not only the law but, also, the very arm of the law.
Gnanasara Thero who famously called President Sirisena, “rukada nayakayek – a puppet leader” among other matters stated as follows:
(ජනාධිපති තුමනි, ඔබ වහාම ඉල්ලා අස් වෙන්න)
“President, you resign immediately”
“President, you resign immediately”
“…Meka api palamuwenma kiuwa me ratata enna yanne rukada nayakayek …… Sirisena mahaththayo dan kale hari dan yanna …. Purushayaek inna oney methena.”
Translation : “We said that a puppet is becoming the leader of this country…….. Your time is up Mr. Sirisena. Now go……. There must be a man (masculinity) in this place. (10.04.2015)
This very Gnanasara has taken centre stage as a bedfellow in an apparently intriguing political gamble. This will be stretching the argument to include politics as influencing the ROL.
Akusala Kamma (Bad Action)
Chronicling the records of Gnanasara thero provides additional perspective to the paralysed ROL even during the Rajapakshe era.
In June 2014, he was alleged to have incited violence against the Muslims of Aluthgama and Beruwela. The rioting caused several deaths, destruction of properties and damage to businesses worth billions of rupees. The Muslim community’s call to appoint a Commission to investigate this incident has fallen on deaf ears.
As journalist Dharisha Bastians observes: “The Government that arrested journalist J.S. Tissainayagam, politician Azath Sally and human rights activists Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan under sections of the Prevention of Terrorism Act dealing with an incitement of communal tension, has been criminally derelict in the case of Gnanasara.” (DailyFT, 26 June 2014).
Gnanasara, who as a monk administers the virtue to abstain from intoxicants that causes heedlessness, has himself pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run and drunk driving case and been fined by the Court (CT 11/04/2013).
In October 2015, warrant was issued for his arrest for failing to appear before courts on two cases. One for allegedly obstructing a media briefing by the Jathika Bala Sena while the other case was for defamatory remarks against Quran opposite the Slave Island police station. In January 2016, he was remanded for alleged contempt of court and threatening Sandhya Ekneligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. Earlier, a warrant had been issued for his arrest on a case regarding his alleged participation at an unlawful assembly in front of the Bribery Commission. Besides this there have been several other complaints filed against him.
The latest episodes was the statement made by Gnanasara blaspheming Allah (please see my article, CT of 09/12/2016). These unabating incidents prompted the 21 Parliamentarians to write to H.E. The President requesting investigation and prosecution. Nothing done!
